The words “fashionable” and “Jack Marschall” have seldom been used in the same sentence. The words to describe my many talents and humble personality are too numerous to list in one column. But I assure you, I’ve never been accused of being a man of fashion.

Like many, I enjoy wearing jeans and whatever shirts, tops, sweaters or sweatshirts might be handy while I’m getting dressed.

My son, Adam, recently said, “Dad, you need to buy clothes that fit you. You’re swimming in that top you’re wearing.” I think Adam was merely suggesting that I should reduce my XL shirts that I bought when I was “husky” for a medium to large size that would be more appropriate for my aging body.

We’re not all alike, but don’t a lot of you men wear the same clothes all the time? That’s what I do. I find something comfortable and I’ll wash and wear it continuously until it becomes a see-through material. Over the years, my wardrobe would have some observers asking if my fashion designer was Soupy Sales. I’m sure some folks would have assumed my seamstress was Ruth Buzzi.

During my time on TV, I would always invest in nice ties, the Jerry Garcia line, for example. That’s all anybody remembered — my ties. I could have worn the same suit for three weeks straight, but the only thing to catch anyone’s eye were the ties.

So I felt somewhat intimidated when I sat down to chat with Seven Hills native and nationally known fashion designer Stephen “Suede” Baum, now a resident of New York City. Baum was in town last week for the unveiling of his Suedesays line of fabric and patterns. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores and Simplicity sponsored the event that featured 15 exclusive special occasion fabrics and patterns for women, men and children.

Baum also hosted a fashion show at his alma mater, the Kent State University School of Design, where he has created a lifetime endowment to support annual scholarships in his name.

“Kent State has always been very supportive of me,” said Baum. “Giving back to them in the form of an endowment makes sense. It gives other students a greater opportunity to make a career in fashion a reality. And it also gives them the chance to go to get the New York design experience after learning some of the basics in Kent.”

Kent State also operates a City Fashion Studio in New York City, located in the heart of the garment district on West 39th Street. According to the school’s website, “The [fashion] School is surrounded by fabric and accessory shops, fashion showrooms, and designer studios. The district is home to America’s world-renowned fashion talent including Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Liz Claiborne, and Nicole Miller.”

“I find that Kent State students come away from the program with a great work ethic,” said Baum. “I’ve interviewed some of them and I’ve seen them in front of a buyer or some top corporate people. In this environment, executives in a board room are throwing questions at them right and left to find out how knowledgeable they are. The KSU kids do very well.”

After graduating from Kent State, Baum interned with Geoffrey Beene and later created his first evening wear collection, which premiered at the Cleveland Center of Contemporary Arts.

Projects that followed included launching many well-known brands, including Fubu Ladies, Rocawear Girls, Lee 1889, Jordache Vintage, Polo Jeans Company and Todd Oldhman Jeans. The tipping point for his career was Baum showcasing his fashion talents as a contestant on the fifth season of the hit Bravo television series “Project Runway.” Numerous clients were soon knocking on his door.

“I was actually at home for the Kent State fall show when I got a call from the producers of the show who wanted me to fly to Los Angeles for the audition,” said Baum. “I made the cut and was among the finalists. You can’t possibly pay for that kind of exposure. The change happened overnight to the point where I couldn’t go anywhere in New York without people stopping me to talk, ask me for an autograph or just find out the latest fashion trends. It was absolutely crazy. At the same time, it was a blessing and an amazing experience that led to the Suede brand.”

It was at Kent State that Baum picked-up the nickname “Suede.” The name stuck and is now used as his personal Suedesays label. He says working with Simplicity, which sells the Suedesays sewing patterns to customers, has been extremely gratifying because the fabrics and patterns are priced for the average buyer and geared for a younger generation.

In addition, he recently returned for an encore all-star appearance on “Project Runway.”

His fame in no way has impacted his target audience of buyers.

“This is all about the consumer because my brand is for everyone,” said Baum. “It’s tangible and it’s something that most people, especially young people, can look at and say, ‘That is cool.’ Without the consumer, we are really nothing.”

Baum has fond memories of growing up in Seven Hills. He attended the old Seven Hills Elementary School and then switched to Green Valley Elementary, Hillside Junior High and Normandy High School. One of his first jobs was delivering the Sun News in his neighborhood.

Success was apparently in his blood. Baum says he didn’t make much cash as a newspaper carrier, but was rewarded for his labor with Bonus Bucks. He used his Bonus Bucks coupons to buy a small TV for his bedroom and a tent that he put up in the back yard.

“I always had a dramatic flair that gave me a desire to head to New York and enter the world of acting,” Baum said. “You have to be true to yourself and people will always be judgmental at every level. You just have to develop a tough skin and be yourself. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get bullied in school because I did. But my parents were always very supportive and that helped me tremendously.

“Mom and dad wanted me to stay local because they thought I was too young to hit the Big Apple. The Kent State fashion school satisfied my creativity and it changed my life. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and it was not long after graduation that I headed to New York, so my wish came true. The only downside is that my dad didn’t live to see the end result of what he helped produce. Luckily, my mom is still here to enjoy the ride.”

“It has been wonderful for all of us,” said Ruth Baum. “My husband and I have always given our support to whatever Steve was pursuing. He was deserving of it and we’re very proud of his accomplishments. He’s even designed a few of my outfits. That’s very special.”

Baum, 42, is remarkably grounded for his stature and fame in the world of fashion. That says a lot for a young man who lives in New York City and has a 33-acre estate in the Catskills.

He attributes his down-to-earth personality to his upbringing and support by his parents and even his summers spent with Amish families learning simpler ways of life. Baum says the experience helped him to connect with nature and made him more appreciative for what he had back in Seven Hills.

The big question for Stephen “Suede” Baum is, what’s next?

“The work I’m doing with Simplicity is a great step for me, but there’s more to come,” said Baum. “I am always driven to that next step, looking for the next challenge. I’m looking into a lot of other licensing deals and maybe something with a TV show. But reality shows have gone over the top and I don’t want to take my brand there. We’ll just wait and see. It’ll be my journey and I’ll do it my way without forgetting where I came from.”

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